TEDxAberdeen will host a TEDxSalon event exploring Aberdeen's role in the energy transition. Partnering with The University of Aberdeen, the Salon will be hosted at the Science Teaching Hub on Friday 10 November. The event will begin from 2pm. 

TED Salon events are smaller, more intimate TED events, hosted by the local TEDx team. A critical element of the salon is lively discussions, allowing attendees to actively participate in the event. With much smaller audiences than a standard TEDx event, salons bring attendees together in more intimate spaces, and with more chances to get know and exchange ideas as with each other.

The energy transition is a complex and challenging process, but it is also an opportunity for the region to create new jobs, grow its economy, and become a leader in the global clean energy industry. Aberdeen has a long and proud history as the oil capital of Europe. As the world transitions to a clean energy future, the city now finds itself at the forefront of the energy transition.

Speakers at this event will share their insights on the following topics:

• Environmental impacts of renewable energy
• Jobs and skills
• Impacts on communities
• Latest energy technologies and policies
• Ensuring transition is fair and inclusive

A panel discussion will follow the speakers, where attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their own thoughts on Aberdeen's energy transition.

The event will begin at 2.00pm (doors open 1.30pm) and will conclude at 5pm.

Register for this event today to learn more about Aberdeen's energy transition and to be a part of the conversation!

Speaker information and registration is available on the next page. 

Daria Shapovalova

Director, Aberdeen University Centre for Energy Law and Senior Lecturer in Energy Law, and Co-coordinator of the Just Transition Lab University of Aberdeen

Daria is one of the coordinators of the University's Just Transitions Lab and leads the energy and environment theme in the postgraduate taught programmes in the School of Law. Daria’s current research is on the climate change and energy law with a focus on just transition.

Talk: Just Transition in Energy Cities: Impact of Transition on Communities

Climate emergency cannot be solved without a complete transformation of our energy systems. While the any urban centre is dealing with challenges of decarbonisation, in cities hosting the oil and gas production there added struggles caused by intrinsic connections with the energy industry. From the energy industry hubs perspective, the switch from fossil fuel production to renewables is not a simple replacement.

Labour markets in these places are often bifurcated with oil and gas industry being the main employer in the region. There are further close cultural ties between the industry and the community through identity and sense of belonging. With a focus on Aberdeen, our research examines the impact of energy transition on communities in the energy cities.

Professor Pete Smith FRS, FRSE, FNA, FEurASc, FISoilSci, FRSB                                                                              

Professor of Soils and Global Change at the Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland, UK) and Science Director of the Scottish Climate Change Centre of Expertise (ClimateXChange)

His interests include climate change mitigation, soils, agriculture, food systems, ecosystem services modelling and nature-based solutions. He has been a convening lead author on many reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). He 

is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, a Fellow of the Institute of Soil Scientists, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Foreign Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, a Fellow of the European Science Academy, and a Fellow of the Royal Society (London)

Talk: Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy

In order to address the climate emergency, we need to ween ourselves off of fossil fuels and generate the energy we need from renewables. But renewables also have some environmental impacts, so it is important that we assess these, so that we can manage these impacts and risks. A range of renewables are available, and it is important that we chose the right ones in the right place.

Lauren Braidwood 

National Energy Skills Accelerator Project Manager at Energy Transition Zone Ltd

Lauren is a project manager with ETZ Ltd, working to ensure skills development is a central to Aberdeen’s Energy Transition Zone project and the wider regional energy transition. She manages the National Energy Skills Accelerator, bringing Aberdeen and shire’s educational institutions together with industry to better understand and respond to energy transition opportunities.

Talk: Jobs and Skills - The cornerstone of energy transition

Energy transition is progressing at pace. With its unique combination of infrastructure, assets and skills, and decades of energy industry experience and innovation, the northeast of Scotland is in prime position to become a global energy hub. Creating an adaptable skills system and accessible training that meets industry needs is crucial to maximising the opportunities energy transition presents. Hear more about Energy Transition Zone Ltd and the National Energy Skills Accelerator’s activities and how both aim to support Scotland reach its Net Zero targets and deliver a sustainable future for our region and people.

Professor Georgios Leontidis

Interdisciplinary Director for Data and Artificial Intelligence, Personal Chair of Machine Learning, University of Aberdeen

His research interests revolve around foundations of machine learning, AI for agri-food sustainability, AI ethics, and AI for industrial applications. Georgios is a member of the Scottish AI Alliance Leadership Group and a Turing Academic Liaison with The Alan Turing Institute’s Turing University Network. Before joining Aberdeen, he was an academic at the University of Lincoln.

Georgios is a previous TEDxAberdeen speaker, you can view his talk 'How Data & AI Can Help Our Sustainable Future' here.

Dr Eddy Wifa

Lecturer, School of Law, University of Aberdeen

He has a Masters in Oil and Gas Law with Distinction and a PhD Marine Renewable Energy Risk Governance both from the University of Aberdeen. His research expertise includes oil and gas contracting, offshore energy health, safety and environmental regulation across several jurisdictions, decommissioning, regulatory theories, energy and natural resource governance, energy transition and energy justice.

He has advised governments and has been a part of several research projects. He has several publications and has spoken at several conferences and events. He is currently a member of the Aberdeen University Centre for Energy Law, The Centre for Energy Transition and the Director of the African Natural Resource and Energy Law Network (ANREL).

Pete Tipler

Strategic Director, Xodus

Pete has a passion for learning and development, which has not only helped him in his own career, but has helped him to influence, shape and evolve the businesses he works for, including Xodus Group. Pete recognises that he was repeatedly given the freedom to learn, experiment and sometimes fail in a safe environment and surrounded by people who knew what they were doing. Pete has created a not-for-profit initiative called X Academy, which will reinvest training profits into further training, climate projects and innovations to help combat the issue of climate change.

Pete is a previous TEDxAberdeen speaker, you can view his talk 'How Workplace Learning Can Combat Climate Change' here.

Moray Barber

TEDxAberdeen Licensee

Dr Daria Shapovalova 

As above, Daria is also a speaker at this event. 

Professor Pete Edwards

Vice-Principal Regional Engagement, University of Aberdeen

As Vice-Principal Pete is responsible for leading the development and implementation of a strategy for the University to make a comprehensive and effective contribution to regional recovery; ensuring that the University deploys the full range of its expertise in education and research to support economic, social and cultural recovery; enhancing the University’s work with partners in the public and private sector on entrepreneurship, upskilling, start-ups, consultancy and commercialisation.

Registration is available on the next page.

Tickets

Standard: £10

Student: £7

Please click here to register your place to attend the event